We’ve seen a variety of vivacious, exciting trends pop up this spring – floral prints, pastel pants and peplums galore to name a few – but my favorite is definitely the unabashed use of bright, bold color.

From tangerine (the “it” color of the year thanks to Pantone) to neon yellow, cobalt blue and an array of pretty pinks, color can do wonders for the complexion, play up facial features and really show that the person wearing them is not afraid to make a statement. Isn’t that what fashion is all about?!

We have a variety of bold pieces at Gwynn’s this season including this fantastic ensemble which pairs Alice + Olivia with Vince. Isn’t the blazer such a great statement piece?!

For a more formal affair, we have this stunning blue number from Badgley Mischka:

Or, how about this magenta gown from Theia:

We also love the color blocking in this Suzi Chin for maggy boutique dress:

Of course we wouldn’t want the gents to feel left out and these fantastic polos from Johnnie-O will help him make a statement when he walks in the room:

Or how about these brightly-hued swim trunks from Vilebrequin:

How do you feel about the bold color trend? Will you be adding some key wardrobe pieces with brighter hues this season?

If you’re entertaining for Easter, we have a few suggestions on some elegant serving ware that we think will show you think your guests deserve the best.

Begin a tradition this Easter with Match tableware reflecting warm celebrations at well-laid tables and storytelling by candlelight. Match is hand-crafted by artisans in the north of Italy and is lead-free and safe for everyday use. We love the earthen tones and simple elegance of this line – you truly feel as though you are enjoying dinner on your outdoor piazza at the family vineyard when setting the table with these pieces.

To add a colorful punch to your table, we recommend these gorgeous cloth napkins and napkin rings from Kim Seybert. We really appreciate the use of cloth napkins – especially for a holiday or more formal family gathering – and think that adding the finishing touches to a table, like napkin rings, are details that are often overlooked and can truly give that magazine-spread look.

See how all of the pieces come together so beautifully to create a look of sophistication, yet appear light and spring-like? We adore the gorgeous robin’s blue and cream dishware from Vietri. This handcrafted Italian dinnerware celebrates the embodiment of family gatherings and enjoying a meal together – a love of life, people and simply good living.

Of course, if you do feel that Easter is incomplete without the bunnies, we have the perfect way to hop into spring with this bunny and cabbage cream and sugar server from Mariposa. Mariposa pieces are designed by sculptor Michael Updike and are crafted individually, reflecting his fine attention to detail. They are also made from recycled materials!

And, for all your Easter treat needs, we’ve got you covered. For the grown-up palette, you’ll find Dean and Deluca truffles, including the delectable green tea truffles pictured above. For the kiddos (and those adults with a bit of a sweet tooth), we offer an amazing assortment of goodies from Dylan’s Candy Bar. From chocolate to giant lollipops and everything in between, Dylan’s Candy Bar is so good even the Easter Bunny can’t pass them up (there have been many rumored sightings of the fella around Gwynn’s)!

Tell us your Easter plans! Do you typically have a big family gathering? Will the Easter Bunny be visiting your home this year??

Our show took place on Friday, March 23 and we really focused on bright, bold clothing and accessories – trends that we see taking center stage this year. Some of the lines that were featured included Pierre Balmain, Marimekko, Alexis, Elizabeth & James, Brunello Cucinelli, Ermenengildo Zegna, John Varvatos, Tory Burch, B.Brian Atwood and Wolford, among others.

Charleston Magazine has shared some amazing photos that really capture the energy and look of our show:

Make sure you visit their website to see the entire slide show!

We also received some great words of encouragement from Charleston City Paper and Creative Loafing Charlotte – we thank them for the support and feedback!

What was really exciting for us was watching the feedback and reactions to our show roll in in real time. We received numerous comments and mentions on our Twitter page (@GwynnsofMtP) and loved participating in the conversations!

Here’s a snapshot of what was being shared during the show:

We thank Charleston Fashion Week for another amazing year of outstanding shows and for bringing the Charleston fashion community to center stage.

Did you attend the 2012 Charleston Fashion Week? What was your reaction?

At Gwynn’s of Mt. Pleasant, we have always been a favorite location for giving our customers a very tailored, personal shopping experience. So, in this age of online shopping, how do we maintain our hands-on approach to customer service?

Because our inventory fluctuates so often and we really investigate which items will resonate best with our clientele, straight e-commerce never felt like the right fit. Instead, we’ve taken online shopping to a very interactive level with our Live Shopping feature.

How does it work? Thanks to an in-store camera, you now have access to all of Gwynn’s merchandise and the help of a Personal Shopper–with just the click of a button.

A behind-the-scenes look at our Live Shopping

Simply call us at (843) 849-9667 and ask to speak with a personal shopping assistant, who will show you the department and items of your choice. Then, head to our website and choose the Live Shopping option in the banner at the bottom of our homepage.

From there, you will be able to interact with your shopping assistant via our UStream feed and view the items they pull exclusively for you!

A view of Live Shopping from our website

We’ll take care of the transaction details once you’re finished shopping and if you’re local, you can then come in and pick up your items. Or, if you’re unable to stop into the store, we will ship your purchases to you and charge a minimal shipping fee.

And, if all of our personal shoppers are helping other customers, you can head over to our Contact Us page and send us an e-mail. Your Personal Shopper will be in touch soon to assist you.

Really, we couldn’t imagine providing a less personal shopping experience for any of our Gwynn’s customers – it’s just the way we handle business.

Have you tried our Live Shopping feature? What was your experience?

The fashion brand is named for the man behind the designs – Mr. Cucinelli’s first foray into fashion was in 1978, when he commissioned textile workers from his native region of Umbria, Italy, to knit him a small batch of neon cashmere sweaters.

He has since muted his designs to a more neutral palette, and has built a small empire headquartered in Solomeo, an ancient Umbrian town of only 500 people. Appreciating the simple pleasures in life, Mr. Cucinelli, 58, keeps his distance from the hustle and bustle of the major fashion hubs and prefers to join local soccer matches several days a week.

Last year, Mr. Cucinelli was interviewed by a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing his viewpoints on his personal style and today’s fashion trends. Here are a few of our favorite excerpts:

“I wear corduroy pants all the time, about seven months out of the year—a heavier cashmere-cotton corduroy in the winter, a lighter one in spring, always in off-white. I’ve been wearing these pants for about 25 years; it’s a matter of look and comfort and it’s become part of my uniform. I wear them with cargo pockets during the day and without for evening. Pair them with a very tailored blazer and you’re well-dressed enough for anything.

I have two big style icons: Gianni Agnelli [the late chairman of Fiat] and John F. Kennedy Jr. It’s not just about how they wore their clothes, but how they carried themselves—the way they spoke, smiled and presented themselves to the public.

Black is overrated. You’ll never find it in my stores. Of course it’s slimming, but it’s just used too much, especially for men. One black suit by one designer, another one by another—they all look the same in the end. If I walk into a crowded hotel lobby and I’m wearing a black suit, I just look like everyone else. Luckily, we Italians like to wear color more. That’s part of who we are.

I’ve been coming to the United States for 25 years. When my team and I do research trips, we always like to see what the young people in the U.S. are wearing. From a design perspective, the U.S. has always been a great source of inspiration for me.”

We received the Brunello Cucinelli spring/summer look book and had to share some of the exquisite fashions coming from the designer this year. You can also find some of these items at Gwynn’s – but we must warn you, the Brunello Cucinelli items never stay in store for long. They are very popular with the fashionable men of Charleston and for good reason – they create that quintessential polished, cool-casual look that is synonymous with the Lowcountry.

We absolutely love that the event has evolved into the spectacular festival that it is. In our opinion, Charleston has always been a very fashionable city and it only makes sense that that fashion is celebrated in such a dynamic, fun way.

What makes Charleston Fashion Week so special to us is that we have a show on Friday, March 23 and will be featuring some of the best items from Gwynn’s.

Gwynn's is featured in Charleston Magazine for CFW

Some of the highlighted women’s brands from Gwynn’s that will be hitting the runway include Pierre Balmain, Marimekko, Alexis and Elizabeth & James. Additionally, we’ll be featuring an extended collection of menswear in our show this year! You can expect to see fabulous finds from Brunello Cucinelli, Ermenengildo Zegna and John Varvatos, among others.

Accessories for the show are being provided by local jewelry designers, Christina Jervey and Leslie Willis and featuring shoe designs from Giuseppe Zanotti, Tory Burch, B. Brian Atwood and Kors by Michael Kors.

We’re also excited to see our very own makeup artist, Cameran Eubanks, strutting her stuff on the runway during our fashion show this year!

Tickets for our event and all of the great happenings at CFW can be purchased here.

For a comprehensive overview of Charleston Fashion Week, including a full listing of events, behind-the-scenes photos, designer bios and more, visit their website or follow Charleston Fashion Week on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. The hashtag #CHSFW has also been created for anyone who wants to join in the conversation during the event.

Let’s take a look at some of the more outstanding looks from this year.

Tom Cruise really hit on two of my favorite trends in menswear at last night’s Oscar celebration: navy tuxedos and peak lapels.

Photo Source: Getty Images

He looks incredibly well put together and fashion-forward without being over-the-top.

Another winner in the peak lapel category was Mark Walberg at the Golden Globes.

Photo Source: Esquire.com

Everything about this is tailored, proportioned and fits him perfectly.

Tailoring really is everything in men’s formal wear – nothing takes a suit from blah to James Bond quicker than impeccable tailoring. We just created a custom Zegna suit with peak lapels for a client at Gwynn’s and I have to say, it looked just as spectacular as any of the stars walking the red carpet.

Photo Source: AP

Kenneth Branagh in a navy Zegna tuxedo at the 2012 Academy Awards.

The ladies truly brought the glamour this year as well. Save for a few crazy get-ups at the Grammy Awards (the Grammys are always a little more out there), the dresses have been more demure, very delicate and peppered with show-stopping details.

As with the men, the women on the red carpet really seemed to embrace tailoring this year and it showed. The ladies who made best-dressed lists all wore gowns that fit like a glove and showed off their beauty without bearing too much.

Photo Source: Getty Images

Octavia Spencer wowed us and showed how amazing a woman can look when she knows how to tailor a dress for her body – the fit on this is perfect.

Emma Stone and Michelle Williams both took bold choices in the color department and I really think they paid off. Both women look confident and turned many heads on the red carpet.

Photo Source: Getty Images

Photo Source: TheDailyBeast.com

The gold detail on Jessica Chastain’s gown complements her strawberry hair and the dress fits her perfectly.

Photo Source: Getty Images

This spring, Gwynn’s shoppers can achieve red carpet glamour as well – we will be carrying new dress lines from Pamella Roland and Marchesa –two designers who made big marks on the red carpet!

Photo Source: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

Sarah Paulson in Pamella Roland.

Photo Source: Getty Images

Shailene Woodley in Marchesa at the 2012 Golden Globes.

Photo Source: Getty Images

Stacy Keibler in Marchesa at the 2012 Oscars.

What were some of your favorite looks from the red carpet this year? Anyone surprise you?

In the last few years, we’ve seen several well-known fashion houses creating new lines that are available to the public at much more affordable price points – think Vera Wang for Kohl’s, Missoni for Target, etc.

We’re very excited to announce that luxury designer Balmain is launching a “line for less” called Pierre Balmain and we will be carrying select pieces!

Born in 1914 in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Savoie, Pierre Balmain is known for sophistication and elegance. He has been credited for saying, “dressmaking is the architecture of movement.” Pierre Balmain also had a stand-out career dressing the silver screen and was a costume designer for 16 films, working with such starlets as Brigitte Bardot, Vivien Leigh, Mae West, Sophia Loren and Josephine Baker.

While the pieces from Balmain typically average around the $10,000 price point, the Pierre Balmain line will range closer to the $300 – $1,000+ price point. The pieces truly are spectacular and can be styled together to get an edgier look similar to that of Balmain.

Chi City Fashion: The Chicago Fashion Blog featured some of the pieces in a recent post, which we’re including for you here.

Are you excited to see the collection? Are there any pieces you’ve mentally added to your wardrobe already?

Photo Credit: Pierre Balmain

Showing how much you care for someone should be easy, right? Well, we agree, which is why we have stocked the best selection of perfect gift ideas for the ladies and the gents. If you’re not sure what to get, stop in to Gwynn’s and our very helpful staff will help you pick the perfect token for your someone special.

In the meantime, here are some Valentine’s Day gift ideas to get your wheels turning:

Chocolate – Yeah, yeah, it’s a little cliché. But, instead of giving a heart shaped box of the same old cordial cherries, try out the new Dylan’s Candy Bar treats now at Gwynn’s. We’re the only retailer of these sweets in SC and with flavors like Strawberries & Champagne or Milk Chocolate with Jalapeños, your Valentine will know they’re getting something special.

Jewelry – Diamonds really are a girl’s best friend. But our selection of jewelry goes well beyond that. With a gorgeous selection of watches for both him and her, a beautiful assortment of statement pieces, and an array of stylish cufflinks, you’ll definitely find something for anyone this Valentine’s Day.

Accessories – Handbags, shoes, scarves, sunglasses….choose from our stunning inventory of luxury accessories and you’ll show your sweetie that you pay attention to their style and think they deserve the best.

There really are so many gift options to let someone know you want them to be your Valentine – we’d love to help you find the perfect something special!

What’s the best Valentine’s Day gift you’ve ever received?

One of the things we’re super proud of at Gwynn’s is our top-of-the-line merchandise that is hand-picked for our Charleston shoppers. We can’t help but think that Dylan’s Candy Bar brings just the right elements of sweet, sophistication and fun to our line up!

The super yummy chocolate bars include innovative offering such as Strawberries & Champagne, Milk Chocolate with Jalapeños, S’mores, Toffee Crunch and Banana Cream Pie.

Our very own Ronnie Williams tried the Milk Chocolate with Jalapeños bar and gave it two thumbs up!

“I must say that it was great. I cut the bar into sections and offered everyone in the store a taste and we all agreed it was fantastic. The jalapeño flavor was minimal and the chocolate was very good. Afterwards there is a hint of heat in the very back of your mouth and throat. I will do it again.” – Ronnie

Founded in 2001, Dylan’s Candy Bar now has retail locations in New York City, Houston, East Hamptons and Orlando with new locations opening in Miami and Los Angeles later this year.

Have you tried any of the sweets from Dylan’s Candy Bar? What is your favorite?